Middle School Showcase & Evaluation

Is this relevant for $100 for a middle school player? Why does a player have to know this in middle school as opposed to soph year of high school? By high school my son and I knew all this stuff just by interacting with others and joining sites like hsbaseballweb.

 

The game has changed? When I was a college prospect they wanted to know my sixty time, throwing velocity, grades and SAT scores. A generation later my kids were asked the same questions and put through the same showcase drills. 

I erased my extremely cynical response and decided to just get people to think about it. I am amazed at the number of ways some baseball people dream up to separate unknowing parents from their money.

Thank you for the feedback.

 

We believe the earlier we can relay this information/data to both players and parents, the better. If players and parents know their baseline scores/results for the 60-yard dash, home to 1st times, bat speed, MPH off the mound or as a position player, pop times, etc., the sooner they can begin to work towards reaching the numbers that will help them to play high school and possibly college baseball. We think knowing this information by the sophomore year of HS is just too late nowadays. Some players are starting to make college commitments by that time - don't necessarily agree with that - but it's the state of the game today. Know your numbers and work to improve them!

 

Are these "measurables" the only markers of a high school or college baseball player? Of course not. However, they do signify some of the characteristics traits athletically of next level players. The event will also include an honest player evaluation and skill training across different parts of the game. The players will be receiving this information directly from local high school coaches who could potentially be these middle schoolers' next set of coaches. We hope this motivates those who attend to push towards improving their game.

 

With the improvement of training techniques over the last 10-15 years, players can now for example actively improve their arm strength through scientifically respected and tested "Velocity Programs" or improve their foot speed/quickness through cutting edge training protocols.

 

We believe there is value in young players knowing their raw data, being honestly evaluated by high school coaches, and receiving training during a rigorous 3-hour workout. If players and parents don't feel the same, they won't attend. 

In can understand where some skepticism might come from, however, I know the Dig-In people and know they have the players best interests at heart. You can expect honest accurate information that could prove valuable going forward. I know several parents, even now, who are wondering if and how much they should invest in their son's baseball future. These gentlemen will provide some helpful direction. Additionally, there are some of the best local private school coaches that can provide some direction about educational choices in conjunction with outstanding baseball development programs. There is a reason that students are tested every semester and not just take an SAT. It’s a source of motivation and helps provide direction for the future. This is the same thing.

If they have the kids best intested in mind they shouldn't be charging the parents $100.00 for the evaluation so the kids and parents know the  "measurables" to work on.  You are going to have 6th and 7th grades getting told they need to get faster, throw harder.  This is like telling a player before high school make sure your body begins to mature or you won't be a prospect. 

 

 

Families have the choice to attend or not attend the event depending on what they feel is best for their ballplayer. 

 

We are offering a service. Receive an evaluation from local high school coaches and experts in the field. See where your child compares athletically against his peers in the same age group. Receive your raw data as a middle schooler and further understand where you need to be to develop your game into a high school and/or college athlete. Receive instruction during a 3-hour workout. 

Hey, you're right. Maybe families could just pick up their baseball evaluation stamps along with their food stamps through another fantastic "Free" government program.

 

These quality coaches have families and responsibilities too. Their time is worth something. Not every parent is qualified to assess their childs ability and could really use some honest direction. It can also go along way in fueling each young attendees fire for the game to see other top players. If the fee is out of line with current market demands, I am sure adjustments will be made. This isn't their first rodeo.

The market demand for evaluating middle school kids should be zero. But there are plenty of uninformed parents who believe if they don't jump on a keep up with the Jones bad wagon starting at age ten their son will beleft behind.

 

My son was 5'2, 100 as a 7th grader and 5'4", 120 as an 8th grader. What was there to evaluate relative to college ball? We already knew where he fit in relative to travel ball. We already knew he was one of the fastest kids in his age group. We knew he was strong for his size. We knew he would grow taller than six feet based on family history. But this was nothing but potential in middle school. What would we have gained for our $100? I spent money on training between his soph and junior years when we could see what was developing and we knew investing in the future of college baseball was sensible.

 

A lot of big middle school age players were 13/14U studs. They didn't turn into high school studs. They thought they were going to and then play college baseball.

Your missing the point of the event.

It's not about the player being a finished product at the middle school level. It's also not about the talent level of the player right now. It's about being evaluated and instructed by current high school coaches. That's these players next stop along the baseball ladder. We feel the information these high school coaches can relay now to these middle school players is valuable in their development. Expectations, tryout format, what they look for in a player, work ethic, etc. The earlier these players can learn these baseball "lessons" the better. With all the other options these days - other sports, video games, computers- we are foolish to think all ballplayers will just pick up this information along the way. They need to hear it from those who will be coaching them for the next four years of their career.

The event also indirectly allows the high school coaches to take a look at local middle school talent all at one location. It also allows them to directly interact and work with these players.

With the popularity of social media and the internet, college coaches for example can go directly to Perfect Game's website and know a players 60 yard dash time, MPH,  height/weight, and pop times amongst other valuable pieces of player information. The same "measurables" we will be recording,  discussing how to improve, and explaining when certain numbers are reached it improves the players chance of playing at the next level.

The interest from families has been great. We look forward to the event. Parents aren't misinformed.  They are helping their player gain valuable information and guidance that will aid in development toward reaching goals.

Not sure there is anything wrong with holding an event for young kids. Especially if they will pick up some information that will help them. Even the price seems fair to me. I know that we could not afford to do the same thing at that price (Overhead too high)

 

We once did an event in 2005 for pre-high school kids in Southern California. We didn't grade the kids because they were too young to grade accurately. We did a couple more in 2006.

 

Anyway some of the kids that attended that event back then ended up being very good. Here are a few that attended some people might recognize.

 

Albert Almora (FL) 1st round pick Cubs

Blake Swihart (NM) 1st round pick Red Sox

Travis Harrison (CA) 1st round pick Twins

Vincent Velasquez (CA) 2nd round pick Astros

Wynston Sawyer (CA) 8th round pick Orioles

and there were a few others that ended up getting drafted

 

There was even a 6th grader that attended and stole the show.  This was Bryce Harper's very first showcase event. He later became the 1st overall pick of the draft after what should have been his junior year in high school.

 

Don't know what, if anything, this really means, but it sure is amazing to look back on. But looking back these were among the top players at the event back then. Not always... but sometimes the best young players do become the best players when they get older.

 

I don't think that this was necessary for those young kids, Not sure if it helped them much. Guess we would have to ask them and their parents. I do know that it was the beginning of all the Bryce Harper hype. Not sure if that was good or bad, but seems to have turned out well for Bryce.

 

To be honest, I really enjoy watching very young kids play baseball.  So this was a lot of fun for me personally. It just wasn't something that we could afford to keep doing.It is easy to see the overly mature for their age kids tearing it up. It's easy to over look the little dinky guys who could end up being the best. But sometimes 12-13 year old kids can leave you very confident about them becoming a good prospect. Then sometimes you're right and sometimes you're wrong... What's new about that. Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong about older players also.

 

 

I just attended a high school pre-season workout. I could see several of the kids that I helped coach as 7 & 8 year olds with the same throwing and batting mechanics. For some that's a good thing and all to often it's a bad thing as it will likely prevent them from ever making the HS team. The longer I work with young athletes the more I am convinced that about 80% or more of athletic skill is something you're born with. If you don't have these basic elements there will come a time when you're wasting time and money. It's better for both the child and the parent to face reality sooner than later.